Kilifi governor Amason Kingi on Friday exchanged barbs with Kilifi north MP Owen Baya over the dismantling of the main dais to Kenya Kwanza Kilifi rally at Mkwajuni grounds.

Baya accused Kingi of sponsoring goons to dismantle the stage where Deputy President William Ruto, ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi and Ford Kenya party leader Moses Wetangula were to address Kilifi residents.

Baya claimed Kingi was using crude means to ring fence the county and make it a Pamoja African Alliance zone

 “I want to tell the people who are sponsoring the goons. And I want to tell governor Kingi that he cannot bring political intolerance in Kilifi. As a party leader of PAA, he has declared that this place no other leader or other person will hold meetings here and therefore he is using young people and hiring goons and thugs to come and destroy property. He is saying he will zone this area,” said Baya.

Baya said Kingi is using a member the family to block them from holding the rally.

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“He is using one member of the family to come and make noise about this property while we have talked to the family and the family has agreed. Because governor Kingi sees political competition and that he is losing ground then he wants to distract us and say that this is his territory and therefore no other leader will come here but I want to tell him and those supporting him that he is in for a rude shock,” he added

He also accused Kingi of using the provincial administration to disrupt the rally.

Kingi dismissed the allegations and warned Baya against using his name for his political failures.

In a telephone conversation, Kingi said the DP has held several meetings in the county and none has been disrupted.

“I am in Nairobi and I am hearing it from you. You know how mature I am politically. The DP is allowed to hold any meeting anywhere. The other day he was here and he used county grounds and nobody disrupted the meetings. Today he will have several meeting in Kilifi why would I disrupt this one? Let Owen admit that they are losing ground. They have failed to mobilize people now they want an excuse to tell their boss. They should stop using my name,” said Kingi

After the dismantling of the dais, Samir Nyundo, a PAA youth leader and a member of the Nyundo family said he will not allow the DP to use his family property for the rally.

He commended the people behind the dismantling of the dais.

“I want to send a message to the deputy president, na nimwambie ya kuwa ataweka mikutano yote Kenya nzima lakini asiingilie katika mambo ya familia. Akiingilia mambo ya failia kwa sababu ya kuchokozana kisiasa basi atapatana na sisi kama familia na wananchi wamejitolea kutoa hivi vitu vyote,” said nyundo

Johnathan Charo Nyundo an uncle to Samir said he had authorized the rally to be held at the ground because he owns the land.

Charo who resides near the grounds urged the police to take action on those behind the demolition of the dais.

“I gave them permission. I am the one who cleared this field many years ago after the cashew trees which were here started to dry up. I made this a football pitch because children were playing far from here. This is my land and the rally can go on,” he said

Kilifi north sub county police commander Jonathan Koech summoned both parties to the county commissioner’s office where a truce was arrived at and the rally continued without any hitches.